Tracing Our Rivers: The Upper Mississippi --- 6/21-7/3/27

June 21-July 3, 2027

Register by Friday, March 12, 2027

Overnight Tour = Bold

Guide: Dr. Andrew Gulliford 

Double Occupancy: $8,225 per reservation

Single Occupancy: $9,425 per reservation

10% deposit due with registration with option to pay in full.  

Optional roundtrip flights from Denver to Fargo, and returning from St. Louis: $450 per person.*

From such humble beginnings, giants are born. Quiet forests in Minnesota hold a simple stream, where you may walk across with but a few steps down and your pants rolled up above your knees. Small beginnings grab more water and grow to host giants. Let's follow the upper half of the Mississippi River, from Lake Itasca through the Twin Cities and all the way to St. Louis. From St. Paul, we’ll hop on a river boat with American Cruise Lines to sail down to St. Louis. We'll do the second half of the river on a future tour. Dr. Andrew Gulliford will be our river-running host, and he and his wife will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary! From getting your toes wet to standing by a river you could barely swim across, the Mississippi is calling you!

*Optional flights from Denver to Fargo, and returning from St. Louis. Starts in Fargo, ND, ends in St. Louis, MO. Includes guide interpretation, coach transportation, twelve nights’ lodging, all entries and admissions and twenty nine meals, including a Welcome Dinner. 

Wednesday, June 21

Individual arrivals in Fargo, ND

Welcome Dinner

Overnight in Fargo, ND

Includes: dinner

Thursday, June 22

Depart for Lake Itasca State Park

Mary Gibbs Mississippi River Headwater Center

Walk across the Mississippi River headwaters

Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox

Lake Bemidji State Park

Lake Winnibigoshish 

Overnight in Grand Rapids, MN

Includes: breakfast 

Friday, June 23

Itasca County Historical Society

Judy Garland Museum

Group lunch in Brainerd

Geographical Center of Minnesota

Crow Wing State Park

Overnight in Little Falls, MN

Includes: breakfast and lunch

Saturday, June 24

Charles Lindbergh House and Museum

Minnesota Fishing Museum and Hall of Fame

Group lunch in St. Cloud

Munsinger Gardens

Mississippi Gateway Regional Park

Overnight in St. Paul

Includes: breakfast and lunch

Sunday, June 25

Return to Minneapolis

Mill City Museum

Historic Stone Arch Bridge

Science Museum of Minnesota

Overnight in St. Paul

Includes: breakfast

Monday, June 26

Board the American Melody

Cruising the upper Mississippi River

Overnight aboard American Melody

Includes: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Tuesday, June 27

Arrive in La Crosse, WI

La Crosse City Exploration with Hixon House

Overnight aboard American Melody

Includes: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Wednesday, June 28

Full day of river cruising

Lecture with Dr. Gulliford

Overnight aboard American Melody

Includes: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Thursday, June 29

Arrive in Dubuque, IA

Dubuque River Walk

Overnight aboard American Melody

Includes: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Friday, June 30

Arrive in Davenport, IA

John Deere and city exploration

Overnight aboard American Melody

Includes: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Saturday, July 1

Arrive in Hannibal, MO

Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum

Lecture with Dr. Gulliford

Overnight aboard American Melody

Includes: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Sunday, July 2

Arrive in St. Louis, MO

National Great Rivers Museum

Gateway Arch National Park

Overnight aboard American Melody

Includes: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Monday, July 3

Breakfast aboard the American Melody

Disembark ship

Individual departures

Includes: breakfast

*Flights may be accommodated from different cities. Please contact us at michael@treasureboxtours.com for more information.

Photo courtesy Justin Wilkens_Unsplash